Chapter 43
Monica
I was running up the stairs to my apartment, his footsteps not far behind. I kept trying to yell for help, but nothing came out. It was a wonder my legs were even working, let alone sprinting as fast as they could. When I reached my apartment door, I felt him closing in on me. I tried one last attempt at a scream, but only a croak escaped my throat.
I opened the door to my apartment and flew through it, quickly slamming it behind me. I reached for the top lock, but nothing was there. I reached for the second lock, but again, nothing. There was no way of keeping him out. I could hear him just on the other side, twisting the knob slowly. I backed away into my small apartment, having nowhere to go.
The door slowly opened and I felt hands on me, shaking me. I fought hard, kicking and flailing my arms. I heard someone say my name. It was Troy’s voice.
“Monica! Baby! Wake up!”
My eyes shot open and Troy hovered over me, a look of concern on his face. I looked at him and then around his penthouse. I wasn’t in my apartment at all. No one was chasing me. It was a dream. I was safe.
“Take a deep breath,” said Troy soothingly as he rubbed my back. “It was just a nightmare.”
I did as he said, taking in a long breath through my nose and letting it out through my mouth.
“It felt so real,” I said softly, shaking my head.
“You were screaming,” he commented.
“I’m sorry.”
“It’s okay. Are you okay?”
I nodded. I was now. Now that I knew I was safe with the man who loved me. I hadn’t had a dream about my stalker in several months. I wondered why it would happen now, after my night with Troy. It was probably because of the flowers, which I still had no explanation for. I knew my stalker was out on parole. Plus, I had a restraining order. It would be stupid for him to try and pull anything because he would go directly back behind bars.
“I’m fine,” I said.
“What were you dreaming about?” he asked, his eyes filled with worry.
“Being chased by him…”
“Your stalker?”
I nodded solemnly.
“I used to have these dreams all the time, but not for a while now.” I lowered my head. “I’m sorry I woke you.”
“Don’t be sorry.”
Troy pulled me to him, and I laid my head on his bare chest. Just listening to the sound of his breathing put me at ease as I nuzzled closer to him. We were on his living room floor, where we had our picnic last night. It had been the perfect first date. We ate greasy pizza and drank cheap beer, watching classic comedies in our pajamas.
Now, our pajamas were nowhere to be found, probably lost in this pile of blankets we were under. We got through a movie and a half before our hands couldn’t resist each other anymore. I could hardly resist him now. I propped myself up on my elbow and leaned in to kiss him. He gave me a sleepy smile.
“What time is it?” I asked, looking out the windows at the dark sky.
He rolled over and checked the time on his phone. “Five a.m.”
I groaned. We had barely gone to bed three hours ago.
“Should we go back to bed? Or…”
His fingers trailed around my nipple as his sleepy smile turned into a hungry one.
“Or what?” I asked, feeling like I couldn’t breathe as his fingers moved lightly against me, causing my skin to break out in goosebumps.
He flicked my nipple lightly, and I gasped as the pleasure-filled pain shot through me and straight down between my legs. He rolled on top of me and showed me exactly what he was thinking.
I woke up again two hours later to the sound of my phone buzzing and the soft greeting of the sun streaming through the large windows. The same windows where I had first experienced what he felt like. I reached over and grabbed my phone, trying not to disturb Troy, who was still asleep. There was a text from Erica: My boss loved your sample piece. He wants to publish it in the next issue.
I was taken aback. That had just been a sample piece. A way of me dipping my toe back into writing. I didn’t expect it to go anywhere.
Me: Really? That’s great. Wait…does that mean I’m hired?
Erica: You are the new part-time freelancer. Congrats!
Me: I should have asked, but is this a remote position? I still work for your brother, you know…
Erica: Yes! You can write anytime. Anywhere. Just get your submissions in on time.
Me: Thank you! I owe you.
Erica: You gave my brother another chance. We’re even.
I smiled at my phone and then looked at Troy. His eyes were still closed, and his lips were parted slightly. His bed head fell across his forehead, but still somehow looked like it was out of place on purpose. I reached over and touched his cheek. Giving him another chance had been the best thing I ever did.
His eyes fluttered open and he held my hand against his face. “Good morning, beautiful.”
“Good morning. Again.” I laughed softly.
He squinted his eyes at the incoming sun, the warmth kissing our bare skin.
“What time is it now?”
“Time to get ready for work.”
“I don’t wanna…”
“Too bad.” I laughed.
He yawned and stretched his hands over his head, the blanket pulling dangerously just below his hips. I let my eyes wander to the lines that formed a V just above where my mouth had been last night. He caught my gaze.
“See anything you like?” he asked with a sarcastic smirk.
I pushed him playfully as I reluctantly pulled myself from the warmth of the blankets and his body. I stood up.
“Where are you going?” he asked, watching me.
“I have to get ready for work. My boss needs his morning coffee.” I rolled my eyes dramatically.
“He sounds like a real piece of work…”
“You have no idea.” I started walking toward the bathroom to take a shower.
“Is that so?” I heard him say, getting to his feet and coming after me.
I let out a little squeal and started to run down the hallway, him not far behind. I would take this kind of pursuit over the one in my dream any day.
After taking a longer shower than I had intended, I started to get dressed for work in the clothes I had brought with me. Troy stood leaning against the doorway of his bedroom in a towel wrapped around his waist. His hair was still damp as he watched me with those piercing green eyes.
“Will you stop that?” I asked, shaking my head as I buttoned my blouse.
“What?” He shrugged innocently.
“Making me want to stay. I’m going to be late as it is.”
“I think your boss would let it slide.”
“I would hate to think I was getting special treatment,” I said, batting my eyelashes.
He chuckled as he walked over, kissing me on the back of my neck. I closed my eyes and leaned into him. I could feel his erection against me and it was practically impossible to ignore it, but I had to leave now. He helped me zip up my black pencil skirt and gave me a pat on the behind.
“I’ll see you soon,” he said before kissing my ear.
I turned to face him. “Can’t wait,” I replied softly.
Down on the sidewalk, I hailed a cab, not being able to fight the smile on my face. The drive to the office wasn’t far, and I had the driver stop at the coffee shop beforehand. I ordered Troy his new favorite hot drink and ordered one for myself, too. I asked for an extra shot of espresso in each. We had barely gotten enough sleep as it was, and then my nightmare woke us both up. I knew we would need the extra energy.
Up in his office, I placed his drink on his desk just like I had for the past several months. I couldn’t believe how much time had passed and how much had happened. It felt like we were finally on the right track. My stomach was full of giddy nerves knowing he would be arriving any second, as if I hadn’t just left him. I was insatiable.
Soon, I heard his voice down the hallway and I felt warmth throughout my whole body as I waited for him to come into view. He sauntered toward my desk wearing a charcoal gray suit and a crisp, white button-down that revealed a peek of his tanned chest. I could smell his shampoo mixed with his cologne from where I sat, but then again, it could be my own hair. I breathed it in and felt a sensation between my legs just as his eyes landed on mine.
“Good morning, Monica,” he said with a nod, his hair falling across his face before he pushed it back with a smile that tugged at the side of his mouth.
I swallowed hard. How the hell could he possibly be sexier than he was just over an hour ago.
“Good morning,” I practically croaked, my throat the only thing dry in this moment.
I crossed my legs tightly and pretended to be looking at my computer because if I kept looking at him, I wasn’t sure I would be able to control myself. He gave me an amused expression before walking into his office.
I couldn’t go on like this much longer, pretending I wasn’t completely infatuated with my boss. The man who loved me. He loved me. And I loved him. I wanted to shout it out loud. I wanted to go in his office and make out with him right now. I wanted to show up to work together after a night of lovemaking. But I knew that was impossible.
The situation with his father was hard enough as it was. I didn’t want to complicate it any more. We would have to keep our secret a little longer.
My phone buzzed on my desk. I picked it up and saw a text from Troy: You look really pretty today.
Me: You just saw me this morning.
Troy: And somehow you look even better.
Me: You don’t look so bad yourself.
Troy: T.
Troy: h.
Troy: a.
Troy: n.
Troy: k.
Troy: y.
Troy: o.
Troy: u.
My phone buzzed in my hand with each individual text. I looked up and gave him a confused look. He grinned at me before typing out another text: I’m hoping you put your phone between your legs.
Me: OMG!
He laughed loudly from his office. I shook my head at him and put my phone on my desk, my cheeks burning. Keeping this secret was going to be harder than I thought.
It was time to find another job. It wasn’t something I had discussed yet with Troy, but I was sure he would understand that we couldn’t go on like this. If I worked somewhere else, then there would be no reason we couldn’t be together. As fun as sneaking around was, I didn’t want to hide my love for him.
I had secured that part-time writing job at Erica’s paper, but it would never be enough to afford my apartment. It was doubtful it would pay for even a quarter of my monthly bills. I needed to find another job that was comparable in pay to this one. I opened a new Word document and began typing up a résumé. It felt strange, knowing if I was hired somewhere else, it meant I wouldn’t be working here anymore. It felt like a goodbye and a new beginning all at once.